Realty Advisory Board, doormen avert strike with agreement

After weeks of tense negotiations, the Realty Advisory Board and Local 32BJ SEIU – the union supporting doormen and other building workers — struck a tentative agreement on a new four-year labor contract. The deal will see the average salary for doormen and porters rise to $49,402 in 2017 from $44,389 currently, an average annual increase of 2.7 percent or an 11.3 percent increase over the life of the contract. Doormen will continue to receive benefits, including 401(k) annuities and a defined-benefit pension plan.

The current contract for about 30,000 apartment building workers, who are employed at 3,300 buildings throughout the city, expires on April 20.

“This victory is a result of member strength, worker unity, and our readiness and willingness to hit the streets,” 32BJ president Héctor Figueroa said on the union’s website. “We were organized, disciplined, focused and ready to strike.”

Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, said in a statement that “the best evidence of a fair and solid agreement is when both sides make concessions, as happened here. “I’m pleased this means there will be no disruption of service for the people we serve.”